September often makes me think of corn mazes.
There’s something about stepping into a maze and not knowing exactly where you’re going. You have to make choices, figure things out, maybe get turned around a time or two, and wonder what’s waiting around the next corner.
And that got me thinking about Minecraft.
If you’ve ever played Minecraft, you probably understand the fun of exploring, building, getting lost, finding your way, and maybe making things a little more difficult for the next person who comes along. A maze in Minecraft can be more than just a maze. You can add traps, surprises, puzzles, hidden rooms—whatever your imagination comes up with.
So I started wondering: What if the maze was part of a story?
That’s what caught my attention about a trilogy of children’s books I’ve been reading. The story follows twins Tyler and Tess Porter, the eleven-year-old protagonists of The Magic Maze Trilogy. They begin the story with some playful banter. They make their way through a fantastical maze filled with riddles, puzzles, and some pretty bizarre and crazy characters like Queen Zebra known as Queen Stinky Feet. Anyway, she pursues the twins as they can give her access to the real world. In the real world, her powers will be unmatched.
I haven’t finished the trilogy yet, so I’m not ready to give you my final verdict. But I’ve read enough to see why this series caught my attention.
There’s something appealing about a story that makes you wonder what’s around the next corner. Add twins, a mysterious maze, riddles to solve, puzzles to figure out, and characters you probably wouldn’t expect to meet—and you have the makings of a pretty fun adventure.
And honestly, I can see why this might appeal to kids who enjoy Minecraft. Not because the books are Minecraft—they aren’t—but because they tap into some of the same things that make exploring a Minecraft world fun: curiosity, discovery, problem-solving, and not always knowing what you’re going to find next.
If you have a young reader who enjoys puzzles, fantasy, exploring, or Minecraft, this trilogy might be worth putting on their reading list.
Samuel Warren Joseph - is a writer whose credits include DuckTales, Batman, Beast Wars, and the film Off Your Rocker. His plays and musicals, including Window of Opportunity, Campaign, and God Help Us!, have earned critical acclaim. He co-authored Ed Asner’s autobiography and teaches college English and Creative Writing.
Phil Proctor - is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Firesign Theatre and a veteran actor with voice credits in Rugrats, Assassin’s Creed, Dr. Dolittle, and Pixar films. He has performed on stage, screen, and in video games, earning numerous theater awards. Phil co-wrote the political comedy God Help Us! and several books, including his autobiography Where’s My Fortune Cookie?
